- Freelander name revived by Jaguar Land Rover and Chery joint venture for electric SUVs
- Concept 97 preview combines Freelander heritage with modern Defender design cues
- SUV features suicide doors, pixelated LED lights, and a three-row six-passenger interior
The Freelander name has been in the shadows for around 10 years now. Now Jaguar Land Rover's joint venture with Chery has revived the nameplate. However, the SUV will not join Land Rover's lineup and will now become its own brand, with a focus on electric off-road SUVs. Giving a glimpse of the future, the brand has revealed a concept while the production-ready model is still under wraps.
Freelander: Design
Called the Concept 97, the model borrows its name from the Freelander's first debut in 1997. Visually, the SUV seems heavily inspired by Land Rover's design language, but it does not have that brand's badge. Taking a closer look, the SUV looks like it merges Freelander's qualities with the current-gen Defender. This is because the vehicle has been designed in collaboration between the UK team and the Chinese team.
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The concept models have been revealed with Glacier Blue and Thousand Mountain Green colours. This is complemented by black cladding with the use of aluminium around the hood, grille, skid plate, and tailgate. The SUV screams of being a concept with its suicide doors and design of the wheels and tyres. These will likely be replaced in the production version of the model.
Taking a closer look, the details of the design reveal increasingly specific relations to the original models. The slanted D-pillar serves as a distinctive nod to the three-door Freelander from 1997, which even offered a soft-top option at that time. Simultaneously, the black accents below the headlights and the pixelated LED setup pay homage to the revised model that debuted in 2003.
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At the rear, the taillights are integrated into a strip of black trim, contrasting with the vertically-oriented aluminum tailgate. The rear skid plate mirrors the front, while a large roof spoiler adds a modern touch to the design.
Freelander: Interior
Inside, the vehicle features a three-row configuration that accommodates six passengers, with a back bench resembling a couch. A display stretching from pillar to pillar is positioned at the base of the windshield, accompanied by a spacious infotainment touchscreen. Additionally, there are two rotating dials and physical buttons on the steering wheel, along with traditional stalks.
Passengers in the second row can enjoy a drop-down screen, complemented by a high-set center console similar to the one found between the front seats. This SUV is equipped with tech including the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8397 chip and Huawei's Qiankun Intelligent Driving ADS 4.1 system, which features a 896-line LiDAR sensor.
Freelander: Production
The brand has announced plans to launch six production models under the Freelander brand over the next five years. China will be the first market to receive these models, with plans for global expansion to follow. However, this rollout comes with a significant condition.